Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Progress check

Please follow this link and quickly answer a few questions regarding your final assignments in this class. Thanks.

Written portion

A one-page reflection is also required for your final. This can be done electronically and does not need to be attached/included in your portfolio. In this paper you need describe what you learned during your project and throughout the term.

  • What new info/techniques/ideas did you learn about your subject,the darkroom , and photography in general through the choices assignment?
  • What was easy and difficult about your project/subject?
  • What would you do differently if you could start over again?
  • Finally, how far along do you think you have come as a photographer this semester (think back to our landscape and other intro assignments getting to know composition, the darkroom and the camera)?

Also, each image you plan to use in your portfolio should be accompanied by a 3+ sentence explanation of the image, what you did compositionally, in the darkroom, on the camera, why you chose the image, how it relates to your topic etc.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Upcoming Dates and things of note...

  • You only have 2 weeks to complete your choices assignment
  • Late work is due on the 21st
  • Portfolios are due on the 24th
  • The darkroom will close on the 21st
  • Light box is due today
  • Slow shutter speed (1 pic and contact sheet) is due Friday

You have a LOT to do in very little time. You should work hard all period, every period we have. Starting Friday we will have a rotation schedule for enlargers in the darkroom. Have fun, good luck, make good prints. And remember, your portfolio should showcase the BEST images you can print!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Choices/Portfolio Planning

1. What is your theme for your final project?Example: My theme project is Music in Seattle.

2. Why did you choose this as your theme? Be specific. 1-2 sentences

3. What type of locations will you choose to shoot your pictures? Why? Keep in mind that you will need to leave campus and most likely leave Shoreline.

4. What type of pictures do you hope to take? Action, portrait, landscape etc? A good photo essay will have a variety.

5. What kind of composition will you focus on in your pictures? You will need at least three composition elements (not counting rule-of-thirds). Yes, I want to know what you are attempting before you shoot.

5b. How will your pictures convey emotion, either from your subject or from the viewer of the pictures?

6. How much work will be done at school and how much away from school? You will have 3 in class days to shoot for this.

7. If you don't have a car, how will you make sure you get to your locations? Can your parents help? How about public transit?

8. This project should showcase everything you have learned in Photography. How will you ensure this happens? What techniques will you use (camera and darkroom)?

9. Is there anything you are unclear about in terms of composition or shot styles and angles etc? This is the time to ask.

10. Please find 3 example pictures that you think embody your topic and paste images or links to them in this document.

Please answer these questions in detail(compete sentences)and send these questions to my staff folder, period one and three.

Final Portfolio


This should be a collection of the absolute best and brightest images past, present, and future. Your portfolio should consist of 7 or more images. Below each picture you will also describe the composition elements used on each photo, what you did to adjust the picture, why it is in your portfolio and where you took the picture.

2+ of these images may be pictures previously taken or printed for this class, though you are not required to reuse anything. The other 5+ must be new, fresh and fantastic and from your "Choices" assignment. Each individual photo will be graded accordingly. They should all be examples of the VERY best that you can do and will be graded more stringently than any previous assignment (both compositionally and in terms of development and printing). It is imperative you showcase your ability to shoot many angles of shots with many levels of camera composition (Review composition elements and types of shots if necessary).

A one-page reflection is also required. In this paper you need describe what you learned during your project. What did you learn about your printing, shooting, and photography in general. What was easy and difficult about your project? What would you do differently if you did it again? Which did you find more rewarding/challenging; shooting or darkroom? Finally, how far along do you think you have come as a photographer this semester?

Lastly you will need to come up with a professional way to display your portfolio; frames, mats, poster, tri fold, binder, booklets, rocket ships etc.

A link to suggestions on building a portfolio can be found here

An online portfolio of B&W prints can be found here

Final Portfolio






This is our last assignment before we begin to assemble our portfolios. As such it is your first assignment which is wide open. For this assignment you will be shooting a roll of film and be submitting a contact sheet and 2prints. The topic for this assignment is entirely up to you. You can chose a specific subject, style, technique, theme, concept, etc. Examples from past semesters are: Macro photography (close ups), holga shots, portraits, animals, textures, shadows, leading lines, architecture, Seattle, nature, the 7 deadly sins, friends, sports, fire, water, love, and infinite others...

The 2 pictures you print from this roll will be included in your 7 image final portfolio. The other 5+ images are entirely up to you, they can be new images, repeats from other assignments, the only requirement is they come from this term and be representative of the BEST that you can print.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

portrait grading standards:

  • Contact Sheet 25
  • Composition/Creativity 25
  • Double Exposure 25
  • Darkroom Technique & other print 25
total = 100 points.

DUE AND TO TURN IN SOON...

Still Life:
  • contact sheet
  • 2 prints (at least one with a vignette)

Slow Shutter Speed
  • Contact sheet
  • one amazing print!
Final Assignment topic:
  • come with an idea on Friday
Late work due on the 21st
Finals day Jan. 26th

LAST DAY FOR LATE WORK...

The last day to make up work in this class is January 21st! Come in at TAP, lunch and after school to make up your missing assignments, or to resubmit assignments you want a higher grade on!

Developing a Print Quiz

Please put the following darkroom tasks in the order you should perform them:

  • Determine exposure
  • Develop print
  • Develop test strip
  • Dry print
  • Expose image for X clicks
  • Fix print
  • Load negative into carrier
  • Look through grain focuser and look for sharp grain/focus
  • Make test strip
  • Position easel
  • Set aperture to F8 (if image properly exposed
  • Set timer to 3 to 5 seconds
  • Stop print
  • Wash print
  • Zoom and focus